EXCLUSIVE: Antoine Semenyo Pulls Out of Black Stars Squad for September/October International Window

English-born Ghanaian attacker Antoine Semenyo has asked to be excused from the Black Stars squad and will sit out the entire September/October international break.

The 26-year-old attacker had been included in Carlos Queiroz’s initial 24-man squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, plus the friendly with Morocco.

As a result, he will miss Thursday’s away qualifier in Bouaké against the Elephants, the home clash with The Gambia in Accra next week, and the October 4 friendly against the Atlas Lions in Tangier.

Semenyo’s decision comes amid a wave of absences that have forced Queiroz to reshuffle his plans. A number of players — including Mohammed Kudus, Nathaniel Adjei, Prince Kwabena Adu and Jan Gyamerah — have already stepped aside, with injuries listed as the primary cause in most cases.

What makes Semenyo’s withdrawal particularly notable is the timing. Only days earlier, he delivered a standout display for Manchester City, scoring twice and registering an assist in a 5-3 win over Sunderland. No official explanation has yet been given for his absence from national team duty.

The Portuguese coach has already moved to strengthen the squad with fresh call-ups as the Black Stars prepare for a challenging set of fixtures.